5 Signs It’s Time to See a Glaucoma Specialist
Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases, but without prompt treatment, it can cause permanent vision loss. Learn how to spot five early signs of glaucoma before damage occurs.
What to Expect from Your Diabetic Eye Exam
If you’re one of the 38 million people living across the U.S. with diabetes, regular diabetic eye screening is essential for preserving your eye health and vision. Without proper care, diabetes can slowly damage the retina and other components inside the eye, leading to vision loss and even blindness.
At Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma in Santa Ana, California, Dr. Anand Bhatt, Dr. Brandon Chuang, and our caring team offer diabetic eye exams to people of all ages. Read on to learn how often you should schedule one, what happens during the exam, and what the results mean.
How often should I schedule a diabetic eye exam?
We encourage all of our patients with diabetes to schedule a diabetic eye exam at least once a year. This recommendation applies even if your vision seems fine and you aren’t experiencing obvious symptoms. Diabetes-related eye damage occurs slowly over time, so many people don’t realize there’s a problem until vision is already affected. Annual checkups can provide peace of mind and prevent damage from progressing.
In some cases, patients may benefit from more frequent checkups. This is particularly true if you’re pregnant, have uncontrolled blood sugar, or are living with an eye disease, such as glaucoma. These factors can amplify how diabetes affects your eyes, and closer monitoring can help lower the risk of vision loss.
What happens during a diabetic eye exam?
A diabetic eye exam typically takes between 45 and 60 minutes. Checkups are tailored to each patient’s needs, but they always include:
Review of medical and vision history
We review your vision records and ask about your diabetes, including the type you have, when you were first diagnosed, and whether you take any medication to help manage your blood sugar. We also ask if you’ve noticed any changes to your eyesight, such as blurred vision, floaters, or halos around lights.
Visual acuity test
This test measures how sharp your vision is at varying distances. It involves looking at a chart with letters of descending sizes and can help us identify refractive errors, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
Eye pressure test
People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely as those without to develop glaucoma, an eye disease caused by abnormally high intraocular pressure that can damage the retina and other structures at the back of the eye. An eye pressure test helps us assess your eye pressure so we can better understand your glaucoma risk.
Dilated eye exam
High blood sugar caused by diabetes often damages the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels at the back of the eye responsible for vision. A dilated eye exam allows us to see these structures clearly and assess their functioning.
Retinal imaging
In some cases, retinal imaging may be used to take detailed images of your retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue near the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals that your brain interprets as vision. Diabetes increases the risk of retinal damage, so imaging can help us monitor any potential problems.
What the results mean
Diabetes often takes months or years to cause lasting vision damage, but regular diabetic eye exams can reveal early signs of diabetes-related changes before symptoms appear.
After completing your exam, we make custom treatment recommendations. Depending on the type of diabetes you have and how it’s affecting your eyes and vision, we could suggest:
- Regular monitoring, called a “watchful waiting” approach
- Lifestyle changes to help manage your blood sugar
- Referrals to other vision specialists (if needed)
- Coordinating care with your primary care provider and diabetes specialist
The goal of treatment is to support healthy blood sugar management and reduce the risk of eye damage and lasting vision problems.
Schedule a diabetic eye exam today
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or have a family history of diabetes, promptly scheduling a diabetic eye exam can protect your vision and provide peace of mind.
Schedule a consultation today by calling our office at 714-541-4185 or using the online booking feature.
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